Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 2 + 0 road tests and 11,304 + 10 owner reviews. How we score
Defender2 is ahead, 77–55
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Tests 64 · 2 tests Owners 89 · 11,304 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test (noise (tester's mark))
“I just ordered Michelin Defender 2 for our 15 Outback . We've had 2 sets of Yokohama YK-CTX after OEM which only lasted about 20k (first set) and 25k (second set). I've had Michelin Defender (orig) and Michelin Defender2 on our Ford Taurus. Very comfortable and great tread life.”
Tests – · none yet Owners 51 · 10 reviews
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | Defender2 | Assurance MaxLife |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests | 73 | ≈ 59 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 92 | 46 |
Defender2: 60% × 72.7 + 40% × 91.6 = 80
Assurance MaxLife: 60% × 58.8 (est.) + 40% × 46 = 54
No road tests of dry for Assurance MaxLife. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).
| Source | Defender2 | Assurance MaxLife |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests | 64 | ≈ 54 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 93 | 41 |
Defender2: 60% × 64 + 40% × 92.5 = 75
Assurance MaxLife: 60% × 54.4 (est.) + 40% × 41 = 49
No road tests of wet for Assurance MaxLife. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
| Source | Defender2 | Assurance MaxLife |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests | 46 | ≈ 64 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 79 | 51 |
Defender2: 60% × 46.4 + 40% × 79.4 = 60
Assurance MaxLife: 60% × 64.4 (est.) + 40% × 51.1 = 59
No road tests of snow for Assurance MaxLife. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
| Source | Defender2 | Assurance MaxLife |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | ≈ 73 (est.) | ≈ 66 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 88 | 53 |
Defender2: 40% × 72.6 (est.) + 60% × 87.6 = 82
Assurance MaxLife: 40% × 65.6 (est.) + 60% × 53.2 = 58
No road tests of comfort for Defender2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
No road tests of comfort for Assurance MaxLife. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
| Source | Defender2 | Assurance MaxLife |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests | 73 | ≈ 66 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 87 | 59 |
Defender2: 60% × 73.2 + 40% × 87 = 79
Assurance MaxLife: 60% × 66.3 (est.) + 40% × 58.7 = 63
No road tests of noise for Assurance MaxLife. The test half is the tested tires’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.
| Source | Defender2 | Assurance MaxLife |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | ≈ 75 (est.) | ≈ 67 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 89 | 67 |
Defender2: 60% × 74.6 (est.) + 40% × 89 = 80
Assurance MaxLife: 60% × 66.7 (est.) + 40% × 67.1 = 67
No road tests of treadwear for Defender2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
No road tests of treadwear for Assurance MaxLife. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
| Source | Defender2 | Assurance MaxLife |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 89 | 43 |
| Category | Michelin Defender2 | Goodyear Assurance MaxLife |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 77 | 55 |
| Dry | 80 | 54 |
| Wet | 75 | 49 |
| Snow | 60 | 59 |
| Comfort | 82 | 58 |
| Noise | 79 | 63 |
| Treadwear | 80 | 67 |
| Handling (owners) | 89 | 43 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Defender2
Assurance MaxLife
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
The community generally views the Michelin Defender2 as a top-tier all-season touring tire, praised mainly for exceptional tread life (reports of 60–80k miles on Teslas), comfort, quiet ride, efficiency, and the 80k warranty. It is frequently recommended, including by Consumer Reports, though it is considered not a performance tire and some say road noise could be better. Minor concerns include speed-rating fitment issues, lack of a snowflake rating, MPG versus competitors, and one report of chemical off-gassing.
“Michelin CC2 or Defender2 or Continental crosscontact LX25?? For 2019 Honda Crv. I heard a lot of pros for these tires in the following order. CC2 --> Defender2 --> LX25 But Cons which i what i like to know about.. CC2 - lots of reviews on mpg hit. Defender2 - Not sure if also has mpg hit. Lx25 - I have a friend who is already 20k on it and tire looks new and didn't mention about any mpg hit for him Thank you. Update: Thank you for all your valuable reviews, I have ordered these from Costco and should get them rolling soon. MICHELIN DEFENDER2 AS 235/60R18 107H XL BSW ALL SEASON TIRE. Read more”
“I’m having a set of four 235/65R18 Michelin Defender2’s installed on the Cadillac as I’m typing this post. I’m at America’s Tire. I’m replacing the OEM Michelin Primacy Tour AS tires that only lasted 25,500 miles. I’m hoping that the Defender2’s will last longer, be quieter and smoother riding. We’ll see!”
“My local tire guys recommended the Michelin Defender2, 225/50R18 99V XL instead of the Michelin PS AS4 to replace my original Bridgestones. My i4 is a 2024 eDrive40 with 18” wheels, and I always drive in Eco, so the high-performance Pilot Sport is more than I need. Anybody out there with Michelin Defender2 experience ❓”
Based on 26 community posts
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
| Attribute | A · Michelin Defender2 | B · Goodyear Assurance MaxLife |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season | All-Season |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 1 | 46 |
| Rim diameters | 18″ | 15″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | 11 - 13/32″ |
| UTQG | 840 B B | 820 A B |
| Treadwear warranty | 80,000 mi | 85,000 mi |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | Vertical Serrated Band |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | 50 - 51 psi |
Michelin Defender2
Goodyear Assurance MaxLife
Winner: Michelin Defender2 — better handling, dry and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score. Goodyear Assurance MaxLife rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 10 reviews), so read this result as provisional.
Michelin Defender2 scores 89 vs 43 on handling.
Michelin Defender2 scores 80 vs 54 on dry.
Michelin Defender2 scores 75 vs 49 on wet.
Michelin Defender2 scores 82 vs 58 on comfort.
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Michelin Defender2, 75 vs 49 on our wet score.
Michelin Defender2, 80 vs 54 on our dry score.
Neither, by our numbers: 60 vs 59 on the snow score, within 3 points.
Michelin Defender2, 79 vs 63 on our noise score.
Michelin Defender2, 82 vs 58 on our comfort score.
Michelin Defender2, 80 vs 67 on our treadwear score.
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology
